Massive: Issue 18 'Supernatural' by Massive Magazine

o t t s

06 High schoolers at Palmy Open Day confused by campus layout and... Fergus the Ram

07 Auckland’s chicken wing statue is flying away

18th August 2025

Space drastically downsized for creative students in Wellington

Words by Leonie Sheehan • she/her

This semester, Photography students moved from an entire building to just two classrooms shared with other majors.

The College of Creative Arts as a whole is dealing with merged spaces, offices downsized, and some programmes pushed out of their buildings entirely. Students say the arts school aren’t just losing floor space, but their sense of community.

Photography student Alex* said, “It just kind of feels like our art school is sort of crumbling away a little bit, which is kind of hard.”

Photography had been moved across campus from Block 6 to Block 10 now sharing rooms with Fashion, Textile Design, and Fine Arts students. Once having almost an entire building to themselves, they now are left with two classrooms for sharing.

“We’ve been to Block 6 to collect our old work, it’s just fucking sitting empty. All the rooms are completely empty,” Alex said.

Staff had their space cut back too. What was once three offices is now a single office shared by three

technicians, with the other two relocated to Block 1 on the opposite side of campus.

Alex expressed appreciation for the technical staff who helped with the move, as well as new facilities such as dark rooms and film processing rooms.

However, Alex criticised the university for reducing their space without providing adequately sized alternatives.

“It’s like a plaster on a bullet wound. We used to have an entire block for our department, now we’ve got a few rooms.”

Alex feared the next lot of aspiring photographers who visit Massey will see the revised campus space and not be interested.

And it’s not just Photography students with concerns. Anna*, a Textile student had similar complaints after a refresh early this year.

When Textile students returned to their main working rooms earlier this year, they found it occupied by Fine Arts students. Their kitchenette had been removed, and the rooms and desk space had been significantly reduced.

“I know my peers don’t enjoy the new space, the last time I saw the studio the old way it was last year in summer school I was really upset to know that when I came back it would be completely different,” Anna said.

Previously, there had been one room dedicated to the loud knitting and weaving machines, and a separate room for quiet study. Now those spaces have been merged, leaving students struggling to work without disrupting each other.

Pro vice-chancellor of College of Creative Arts, Margaret Mailie, said the future of the old Photography building is yet to be determined.

She said the university was working with the estate team to find new tenants such as RocketRentals, a screen production rental company that has become a new tenant in the Screen Hub. Maile said the tenant was offering “valuable work experiences for students even before they graduate”.

She believed Photography was one of the programmes to benefit from the investment in new facilities, saying students were moved with the launch of new state-of-the-art facilities.

“In order to ensure we continue to offer students, the latest technologies in fit for purpose, modern studio facilities, the College has undertaken a significant space refresh project in 2025.”

Differing the opinions of students Massive spoke to, Mailie said teaching staff had only received positive feedback from students about the new facilities.

She said a bigger revitalisation of Blocks 10 and 11 was underway. “Further works will take place in Block 10 and 11 over summer, and we are currently working with staff and architects on designing these spaces.”

*Names changed for anonymity.

Error spotted in survey for representationstudentremodel

Words by Sammy Carter • she/her

As the student association works to fix its representation, they may want to do another proof read on their consultation.

A survey was released last week to gather students’ opinions on what the new model should be. But quickly an error was spotted and brought to Massive’s attention over Instagram.

The second question on the survey said: “All student representatives are currently elected, with few checks and balances on the candidates.”

In actuality, several student reps are appointed including the four presidents, disability reps, and reps hired post-election. The choice to appoint some reps has been historically controversial, with some feeling it takes away the democracy of elections.

Following Massive’s media inquiry, the survey question was corrected to say, “Student Representatives are chosen via a mixture of appointments and elections.”

The current structure was deemed ‘not fit for purpose’ last year after several staff resignations and allegations of a toxic board culture.

Students labelled the survey mistake as “unprofessional” and “a bit odd”.

But as Massive interviewed students, many were confused to know there even was a restructure happening. Some, even after years of study at Massey, didn’t know they had reps aside from class reps.

Wellington vice president Takunda Mabonga smacked his head on the table upon being asked about the error. Not part of the restructure’s working group, the rep had no idea about the slip-up.

He felt many students didn’t know about the remodel. And when asked if he thought there had been enough advertising, he shook his head hard.

“They’ve given it a good attempt.”

He felt with an outside company coming in to help with the restructure — Third Bearing errors can slip through.

Later, Mabonga received an email to say that r eps outside the working group would be given the chance to give feedback to help shape the review.

Regardless, he was happy to see Te Tira Ahu Pae taking steps to make a change. “I hope whatever the outcomes is allows the reps to be able to make a good impact on campus.”

All parties involved Massey University, Te Tira Ahu Pae, and Third Bearing were approached for comment.

High schoolers at Palmy Open Day confused by campus layout and... Fergus the Ram

Words by Jaanvi Naidu • she/her

Despite the free food and glossy marketing, Massey's maze-like layout left some scratching their heads on August 6th.

For prospective students already weighing decisions about courses, costs and careers, the best freebie could have been a clearer map.

Jaron, a year 13 student from Palmerston North Boys’ High was visiting Massey for the first time. He appreciated the welcoming atmosphere but found the campus layout confusing.

“I didn't expect so many different rooms though. When you walk into the orientation space, it's like, where are we meant to go?”

The day was designed to give future students and their parents a taste of university life with tours, information booths and activities spread across the campus.

But many were confused by the ‘weird animal thing’ aka mascot Fergus the Ram.

High schooler Eric is a familiar face on campus thanks to sports activities, and was keen to check out the recreation center during Open Day.

“The mascot confused us a little bit, but overall, I liked seeing the rec center,” he said.

From Mana Tamariki, Kay and Angel felt good on campus, however, were surprised by the number of people and the size.

“We weren't expecting this many people here. The campus is huge and finding the right course information booth was a bit confusing,” they said.

They also found the university mascot, “the sheep”, unexpectedly memorable.

Lucas, a Year 13 student from Kuranui College, was struck by the campus size and generous freebies.

“I just wanted to see what the university was about and I didn't expect there to be so much free stuff.”

He admitted to getting a bit lost, but liked all the green spaces.

He was thinking about studying Sports Science or Business and said the Open Day made him consider Massey more seriously.

“Navigation could have been better, but it was an eight out of ten overall experience.”

Rebecca Williams, a parent of a prospective student, attended Open Day hoping to find out more information about Massey’s course options to help guide her daughter.

She felt there was a lack of clear information on scholarships and financial support.

While the event included a presentation on scholarships and StudyLink, and a hub in the library with information all day, the confusing layout meant parent Rebecca didn’t see anything about it.

“I didn't see a single booth about finances or scholarships, which worried me.”

The rising cost of tuition and living expenses weighed heavily on their family decisions. “Rent, tuition and food expenses are going up every day and I can't cover it all alone.”

Recent course cuts at Massey had shaken her confidence. “If her course got cut midway, she would have to transfer and waste time and money, something we want to avoid.”

She said her confidence would grow if Massey could guarantee courses would be available throughout her daughter’s studies.

Rebecca also felt Massey could improve communication about job prospects after graduation. “For some degrees, where graduates end up working is unclear. It would be good to know the possible career paths.”

When it came to Palmerston North, Rebecca felt her daughter would be safe in the tight knit community.

A Massey spokesperson said they were pleased with how Open Day went, and had received good feedback.

They said each year surveys are put out to gather feedback on Open Day, and they are commited to improving the experience.

Auckland’s chicken wing statue is flying away

Words by Sammy Carter • she/her

Albany’s iconic chicken wing statue is flying away today for around two months and when it returns it’ll have a new location to spread its wings.

The statue has some cracking in the creases, and peeling on the top coat that needs to be resprayed and recoated.

Massey’s art curator Mark Kaneko said, “It’s in remarkable condition given it’s been on campus since 2014.”

As Quad A and Quad B are in the process of vacating to prepare for leasing, the sculpture needs a new location when it returns.

The statue arrived on campus in 2014 as a celebration for Massey’s 50th anniversary. The choice of a chicken wing honours the lands past as a chicken farm, as well as Massey’s history as the original agriculture college.

Made by New-York based Kiwi artist Reuben Paterson, Kaneko said, “We want to make sure we respect Reuben’s work by keeping it looking good, and we know how much our students and staff love taking photos with it, so we want the sculpture looking its golden glittery best.”

Artist Reuben Paterson, Te Tira Ahu Pae and Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara are working together to find a new location suitable for the statue.

Rent going up? Climate anxiety through the roof? Local councils influence both by making decisions about your housing, transport, and climate future. Council elections are starting this September.

Anti-climate candidates want to slash local climate action, while others think funding community services like libraries and parks is a waste of money. We're mobilising students nationwide to stop them. Are you our next Wholesome Troll, Assembly Angel, or Print-Media Maverick?

Authorised by Lisa McLaren. 350@350.org.nz

Words and Art by Jessie Davidson

gimme that sympathy pussy ;)

Three seconds, one Ukranian, no huzz

Two years ago I went on a bit of a Tinder hoe phase after getting out of a long term relationship. I met this guy, he was good looking and nice enough. We both knew what it was and made an effort to get to know each other's sexual interests. We literally played question games to get to know each other's turn ons and kinks. We had made plans to hookup a few times but something always came up. Then finally, we made the plan.

After talking about expectations, he told me it had been a while so he might finish fast. Which was fine cause I can’t cum from sex anyway (pray4me). He said he was keen to go a few rounds to make up for it and we could watch a movie and cuddle etc. I told him what he could do to make me cum and it was A PLAN. He came over, we got in my bed, started watching a movie, and I nuzzled up into his arms. For a sec I missed my ex.

I wanted to make conversation so I asked him about how long he had been in NZ for. His profile had said he was a Ukrainian refugee, but he had a full kiwi accent so I was confused. He said he moved here as a baby. Confused, I brought up the refugee thing and he laughed and said, “Oh haha nah I just say that to get sympathy pussy”...... I said okay cause wtf does one say to that.

I said ow and he went all dom daddy and flipped me onto my stomach. Ripped my pants off and kissed up my thighs and cheeks. Then out of NOWHERE. He starts vigorously fingering me, scratching both the in and outside of my vagina. Then about a minute later he puts it in me. I will admit for the three seconds it was in it wasn't bad. Then he finished, which I was expecting anyway. I waddled to get a towel to fish his fake refugee babies outta me, expecting it to be my turn. He got up and said, “Alright, I'm gonna head off.”

Confused I said, “What happened to a few rounds?”

He said, “Yeaaaah just not really feeling it.” At this point I'm already thinking about grabbing my vibrator the second he leaves. He left. He was at my house for just under 20 minutes…. Dazed, pissed, confused and with a sore boob and scratched vagina I immediately texted him saying “That was the worst sex of my life, never waste a woman's time like that again.”

This man said, “Yeaaah not my finest moment but it is what it is." NO SHAME AT ALL.

Anyway we start kissing and he aggressively squeezes my boobs like he was expecting them to squirt beer.

And the punchline? HIS NAME IS VLADAMIR.

make an anonymous submission at massivemagazine.org.nz/sexcapades

HOROSCOPES

OROSCOPES

CANCER

Humour will only get you so far Cancer. Not everything can be made into a funny situation, and people are starting to get annoyed with your comedic tendencies. Challenge yourself

You’ve been successfully tricking someone close to you. You think your being caring by protecting them from the truth, but really they could use a harsh reality check. Take this as yours

CAPRICORN

You keep changing your mind on plans you made weeks ago Capricorn, and it’s time to give someone a solid answer. Remember that you know what’s best, even if you’re not 100% sure yet.

Virgo season is about to arrive

AQUARIUS

Expect increased confidence and potential for romance this week Aquarius. Fire up the dating apps, smile at strangers, and see what happens. People are drawn to your glow.